Far far away! Icelandic heritage

WORK/PROJECT: The work of SEEDS volunteers will be related to a beautiful Icelandic old turf house that has been transformed into a museum. This turf house is one of the best kept farmhouses from this era in the country. We have the chance to learn and adopt new skills as this project offers very diverse tasks and opportunities since maintaining a turf house requires special techniques and knowledge as the material is "alive" and always changing.

The museum emphasizes on a realistic set up of its collection, just as the inhabitants just went out for a moment. Additionally they work on transmitting the old ways of working through events, workshops and courses. The museum is unique in the way it shows clearly how the way of living has changed drastically from around 1770 until the last inhabitants lived in the farm in the 1960´s.

Many tasks will be related to the museum itself, such as cleaning and polishing the collective items, but the museum includes i.e. textile, wooden household things and other items used in Iceland in the olden days. We will be cleaning the area, maintaining the houses and preparing for the busy season ahead. The museum opens in June every year and we will assist the locals with the arrangements for the opening which SEEDS volunteers will be invited to take part in.

Other tasks may be checking, correcting and even translating information for the museum but many guests from different countries visit the museum every year. Additional tasks may include general out-door environmental work.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be lodged in a local house, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Food will be provided and volunteers will have access to a kitchen and have to take care of their own cooking and cleaning activities. Please do not forget some traditional food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The project takes place in the north east part of Iceland in a mountainous bay (fjord) called Vopnafjörður, the Fjord of the Weapons. A name that comes from one of the Viking settlers, Eyvindur Vopni. The fjord is renowned for its natural beauty and good weather with salmon rivers and large areas of untouched landscape.

Just about 20 km away from the project is the town Vopnafjörður which is one of the warmest places in the country and warmer than most places at a similar latitude. The reason is the warm waters of the Gulf Stream that moderates the winters and makes the island habitable. The main industries of Vopnafjörður are fish processing, agriculture, and tourism and other services. Inhabitants of the fjord are 683 there of 540 who are living in the village.

The county is divided into three valleys, Hofsdalur, Vesturárdalur and Selárdalur and in those valleys are some of the most popular fishing rivers in the country. Selárdalur has natural hot springs, and next to them is a swimming pool with a hot jacuzzy. In Iceland you may find many unique pools all over the country but the one in Selárdalur is one of the most special. The area has various lakes, some of them popular for fishing, but others have gotten smaller due to soil erosion.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp, but high proficiency is not a requirement.

TERMINAL: Closest International Airports: Keflavík /Reykjavík (KEF) and Akureyri (AEY); nearest domestic airport is Þórshöfn (THO), while the closest bus stop is in town.

SEEDS organises the "minibus option", a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camps and vice-versa, which apart from being cheaper and more convenient, allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites.

SPECIAL REMARKS / EXTRAS: Participation fee EUR 120.

SEEDS and/or our local hosts will organise free time activities and sightseeing to some of the interesting attraction spots in the area.